A new recipe?!

After my last post I became inspired to cook something new. I found this recipe on Our Best Bites, and it is really easy and super tasty!!! Some guests ate some leftovers and really liked it too. I thought the cider was a strange ingredient, but it being fall having cider around is fun and I do think it gave the soup more depth of flavor. Check out the link for pictures.

Tortellini Sausage Soup

3 links Italian sausage ( I got 2 from the deli for $1.90 and it was plenty)
4 cloves pressed garlic
1 onion, diced
½ c. water
2 cans chicken broth
½ c. apple cider (don't leave this out! I did once and it wasn't the same...)
1 16-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 c. sliced carrots
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
2 medium zucchini, grated (great way to use your food processor if you have one)
8-10 oz. package cheese tortellini (check the freezer section of your grocery store; if you can find it there, it will almost always be way cheaper than fresh tortellini.)
2 Tbsp. dried parsley (yes, that's two tablespoons)

If you're using link sausage, remove the casings and crumble into a large soup pot. To remove the casings, you can use a sharp knife to cut a slit down one side of the sausage and then peel back the casing.

Begin cooking sausage over medium heat, stirring frequently. If your sausage is pretty fatty, you'll want to drain it when it's about halfway cooked. Meanwhile, chop onions and garlic
and add to the sausage. Continue cooking until onions are translucent and your sausage is cooked.

Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, juice, water, chicken broth, carrots, oregano, and basil. Cover and simmer for 1/2 hour. (until carrots are tender) Add parsley and zucchini and simmer for another 10 minutes or so. Add the tortellini nd cook until tender, and then serve with bread and freshly-grated Parmesan.